A Northumberland pub has added its very own planetarium with the aim of capitalising on the county's £25 million astrotourism industry.
Northumberland is home to the largest Gold Tier Skies Park in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, meaning North East residents don't have to go far to discover the wonders of the universe. While the county has five observatories, it hasn't had a permanent planetarium until now, with the Twice Brewed Inn's purpose-built one now open for business.
Led by resident astronomer, Wil Cheung, the observatory's stargazing sessions have attracted thousands of visitors since opening in 2020. And it is hoped that the addition of the planetarium, aimed to enhance the Twice Brewed's stargazing experience further, will bring even more.
Read more: I went to a stargazing night in Northumberland National Park and saw 2.5 million years into the past
Events at the 35-capacity planetarium - which has underfloor heating, reclining chairs and bean bags - include a tour of the Universe, a journey around the Aurora Borealis, travel through Nebulae, and getting among Saturn's rings. And should skies be cloudy, stargazers will be able to explore the night sky from inside the dome.
Wil Cheung said: "We have spent many months building and making plans for the planetarium and everyone at The Twice Brewed is delighted to be able to welcome people inside to immerse themselves in the universe. It really is incredible what the planetarium can bring to the overall stargazing experience.
"While you could never replace the joy and wonder of exploring the night sky for real, having the planetarium will allow us to take guests on journeys which simply aren’t possible through a telescope. It’s wonderful that we now have the ability to offer visitors the chance to do both."
In the coming weeks and months, more events will be added to the Planetarium timetable, including daytime sessions. For more information, on the planetarium and Twice Brewed's stargazing sessions, visit www.twicebrewedinn.co.uk/stargazing.
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